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Topic: Back up light switch 4 speed help. (Read 2402 times)

My 69 spent a lot of its life as a drag car, so when I got it I didnt know that and alot of little things were missing like my entire Ebrake cables, and much more. That all said I have no evedence of a back up light except the white lens in the tail lights and wiring to them. The assembly manual only shows automatics or column shift manual. I saw complete kits available of 67 amd 68 but not 69 that I could find. I have no bracket or wires near or around the tranny. The plug in under the dash on the column (as mine was a 3 on the tree when new) is gone so is the bracket on that said column. What all parts will I need and where will I plug it in at? Tkx Jim

For '69 the back-up lights were activated by a switch at the base of the steering column inside the car. With the reverse lock-out system, placing the trans in reverse rotated the column, activating the switch.

William, Thats how the manual states it too but that was for column shift cars. I thought with 4 speeds there was a switch and bracket near the back of the transmission and when shifted into reverse the reverse shift rod hit the switch button which activated the rear back up light?

I thought with 4 speeds there was a switch and bracket near the back of the transmission and when shifted into reverse the reverse shift rod hit the switch button which activated the rear back up light?

William, Thats how the manual states it too but that was for column shift cars. I thought with 4 speeds there was a switch and bracket near the back of the transmission and when shifted into reverse the reverse shift rod hit the switch button which activated the rear back up light?

Rufcar, it's as William stated, and you know the manual is always correct, and it is this time too. When your engine is ON/running, and you put the transmission into reverse, the linkage shown in the ebay ad here...

sold by many repro houses, and made of unobtanium if you want an original.. and which connects from the transmission linkage, thru a bellcrank mounted to the frame, up to a lever on the lower part of the steering column, which rotates and changes a switch position in the column as shown in the pix below:

On the picture shown, one terminal gets a fused ign or reverse power lead and the other terminal gets the light green wire to the b/up lights.The bellcrank moves the silver tab on the right of the switch, via the turning tube of the column, and slides the internal switch connection over to complete the path for power.

Rufcar, is your car now a floor shift? Or are you returning it to original? If it is a Floor shift the switch down at the back of the Trans. will probably work much better for you. As for power to the switch, if you're not concerned about original, you could splice to any wire under the Dash that is "hot" only when switch is on.

myred, the was originally was a col shift 3 speed and that was long gone. Now a 4 speed console car. Kelley, yes I do have shorty headers to accomadate my vette side mounted exhaust. Once I replace the trunk harness next week. Ill get that switch and see how I can wire it. I want to check again under the dash and see if theres any remants of the original. I know theres zip on the column. I just had the entire dash out to install console gauges and Tach and didnt notice anything unusual but then again I wasnt looking!